Freesat to go High Def?

[CITY_MANC]

THE ARTICLE (http://www.hdtvuk.tv/2007/04/bbc_and_itv_ann.html)



BBC and ITV announce subscription-free digital satellite service coming Spring 2008


The BBC has been given approval by the BBC Trust to launch a nationwide free-to-view digital satellite service in a joint venture with ITV.

Currently named "Freesat", consumers will be able to access up to 200 channels, plus full digital satellite interactivity, and high definition capability, without the need to pay a subscription.

They will be able to choose from a range of equipment ranging from standard definition and high definition receivers, a high definition PVR, and integrated digital television, plus a range of installation options.

The service is planned to launch in the spring of 2008.

Naturally, the heads of both channels talked excitedly about the new deal.

BBC Director-General, Mark Thompson, said, "The BBC's objective in launching Freesat is to support Digital Switchover by providing another way for licence payers to receive digital television channels and radio services, subscription free from the BBC and ITV.

"Its primary purpose is to drive digital take-up in analogue homes, particularly in those areas which are out of digital terrestrial coverage.

"Freesat also offers a trusted free-to-view digital upgrade path that gives licence payers all the benefits of digital television (notably high definition capability) guaranteed free of subscription."

ITV Executive Chairman, Michael Grade, said: "Freesat will build on the success of Freeview by offering viewers a simple and cost effective way of upgrading to digital TV. By filling in the current gaps in Freeview coverage, Freesat will ensure that a free-to-air, no strings attached option for accessing digital TV is available to the whole of the UK ahead of digital switchover.

"By offering HD capability we will future proof Freesat if, as expected, high definition television continues to capture the imagination of UK viewers."

The proposal is supported by the UK Government, whose recent White Paper on the BBC Charter stated that they were keen to ensure that consumers have as wide a choice as possible of how they get digital TV.

On the surface, this sounds like really exciting news. With the BBC's commitment to HD, and Michael Grade's call for free high definition TV, we should expect a decent amount of high definition content on the platform.

It will be interesting to see how Sky and Virgin Media respond to this news.

More comment, reaction, and opinion to come.

[Geofbob]

Is it just coincidence that this has been announced at the same time as BSkyB's stake in ITV has been criticised by the regulation authorities? While that stake was seen as an attempted block on Virgin's ambitions to take over ITV, presumably Murdoch would also not want to see a BBC/ITV free satellite operation undermine Sky. But what about Branson; if he succeeds in taking over ITV, will he want this project to contnue, as it will surely be in competition with NTL?

As regards, the HD aspect of this, how does it affect any hopes for HD on the Freeview terrestrial platform? To me, it doesn't look too good.

[brian s]

200 free channels, a number of them HD? I'll believe that when I see it. What I would like is to have freeview in HD on the main channels. I don't see how anyone can provide 200 quality free stations.

Cheers
Bri

[zAndy1]

Presumably the satellite is already in orbit that they're planning to use for this then? If so which one is it? Or are they planning on putting another sat in orbit for this (cost wise I would have thought that would be prohibitive).

[Starburst]

Presumably the satellite is already in orbit that they're planning to use for this then? If so which one is it? Or are they planning on putting another sat in orbit for this (cost wise I would have thought that would be prohibitive).





Nothing is changing in that regard.
The channels will continue to use the SES birds at 28.2 (2D probably if rights issues are still a minor issue) so every channel that is on the EPG of this new service will also remain on the SKY EPG unless they intend commercial suicide:)

The simple fact is that like SKY the new Freesat service is using huge channel numbers to bulk up it's status while we know that hundreds of channels includes all the shopping and religious channels and what must be loss making ventures (for tax purposes perhaps) that clutter the SKY EPG.

[King Louis]

Presumably the satellite is already in orbit that they're planning to use for this then? If so which one is it? Or are they planning on putting another sat in orbit for this (cost wise I would have thought that would be prohibitive).


The Astra 2D satellite positioned at 28.2° east, has a footprint focused tightly on the British Isles, making reception difficult in large areas of mainland Europe. The Astra 2D Website was set up to help those living outside the Astra 2D footprint, by providing news, information and advice on reception of the Astra 2D services and of British TV and radio abroad. The Astra 2d Reports pages, contain reception reports from many countries, so don't dispair, Astra 2D is being received from the Canaries in the west, to Cyprus in the east!
All of the BBC TV and radio services, all ITV1 regions, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, some of Sky's channels, Film4, More4 and E4. The forthcoming Freesat satellite service, from the BBC and ITV, is expected to broadcast from the Astra 2D satellite.

All of the BBC's services along with ITV's channels and Film4 broadcast unencrypted and are Free To Air (FTA). You do not require either a Sky Digital recreiver or a subscription to view these channels. Any digital satellite receiver can be used. Channel 4, E4 and More4 are also expected to be available FTA sometime in 2008, when Channel 4's contract with Sky expires.

Irish TV and radio also broadcast from this satwllite, RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3 and TG4), along with Irish radio channels are available. You will need a card from the Republic of Ireland, or a Sky card with a Northern Irish Post Code to see Irish TV channels (TV3 not available)! All the radio stations are Free To Air (FTA).

http://www.astra2d.com/

Any help :hiya:

[RuddyRoad]

Could someone explain, in simple terms, how this differs from what is currently already available ?

The BBC and ITV already transmit satellite channels that I can pick up for free, so what's changing ?

Thanks :)

[Starburst]

Could someone explain, in simple terms, how this differs from what is currently already available ?

The BBC and ITV already transmit satellite channels that I can pick up for free, so what's changing ?

Thanks :)






The new platform will be based on the DVB-S standard so as with Freeview there will be a large selection of boxes both in price and performance. There will also be a standard EPG (7 days at least with I suspect series link functions in the same manner a Freeview Play) and will be far cheaper to use for the broadcasters than SKY's EPG. It's very likely a CI slot will be incorporated providing an option for third party PAY channels using whatever encryption they want (no paying SKY for Videoguard) and with HD support the chipset should be a H.264 one which is mpeg2 compatible. Scaling and de-interlacing functions along with HDMI outputs is also a very strong possibility on some of the STB's that will be offered.
The BBC and ITV channels will remain FTA and the CH4 family will go 100% FTA with a good possibility that Five will follow suit meaning an offering that other nations have had for two decades.

What is not different is that the FTA channels will continue to be broadcast from the same satellites as they are now and will continue to be picked up by a SKY digibox and the SKY EPG will remain populated. Behind the scenes OFCOM will be pressured to force SKY to reduce their EPG/regional mapping charges which will happen fairly quickly hence no defection from the SKY EPG and so the 9mill digibox users will not be affected.

[Naqv]

Could someone explain, in simple terms, how this differs from what is currently already available ?

The BBC and ITV already transmit satellite channels that I can pick up for free, so what's changing ?

Thanks :)

There will almost certainly be HD TV channels available, maybe not now but DEFINATELY in the future and they will be FREE.

[Hi-Def]

I think the main benefit of this is being able to buy boxes from different manufacturers with different levels of spec, with a set minimum.

so your not bound to having a sky box like you are at the moment with freesatfromsky

[Starburst]

There will almost certainly be HD TV channels available, maybe not now but DEFINATELY in the future and they will be FREE.





Lets hope so but with CH4 announcing a huge cut in profits and since their family of channels are no longer subscription funded I do wonder if a HD subscription package may look more appealing to them:)
Same goes for ITV and Five who know for sure that the more "free" channels are offered the less advertising money they will get as it's a finite resource and the HD ad market is going to take years to become significant.

There is always the BBC assuming the suits don't shut down HD broadcasting as a poor use of the license fee.

[richjthorpe]

What are the chances of hooking up the BBC Freesat Dish to a PC running Media Centre Software? Obviously you would need to get a DVB-S card and H264 decoder hardware/software, but will the BBC put some kind of strange encryption on there?

Richie.

[Starburst]

What are the chances of hooking up the BBC Freesat Dish to a PC running Media Centre Software? Obviously you would need to get a DVB-S card and H264 decoder hardware/software, but will the BBC put some kind of strange encryption on there?

Richie.





You can connect a dish pointed at 28.2 and use a suitable PC to watch the BBC HD broadcasts right now, they are and will continue to be a FTA broadcaster.
Any new HD services may using DVB-S2 so that may have to be taken into consideration if you buy kit now.

[Krobar]

Humax, Philips, Reel Media and Dream currently make recievers and PVRs that will work with Freeview HD from BBC in this country as well as working with multiple/motorised satellites dishes for a good sleection from elsewhere.

[mesajoe]

You can connect a dish pointed at 28.2 and use a suitable PC to watch the BBC HD broadcasts right now [clip]...
...using a card such as this one.. http://shop.technotrend.de/shop.php?mode=show_detail&lang=de&group=3&sid=e76225f7e811eb352a7474be36996d0e&s=&id=42

Mark
:)